Aberdeen Central got off to a slow start, but finished on a strong note during its tennis home opener Monday at the Holgate Courts.

The Golden Eagles fell to St. Thomas More 6-3, however they secured a big doubles win to close out the day.

“You always like to win the last matches of the day,” said Central coach John Vogel. “It leaves a better taste in your mouth.”

After struggling in singles play, the team of Carly Comstock and Livia Douglas pulled out a tiebreaker win at second flight doubles.

“That’s a really good two doubles team St. Tommy does,” Vogel said. “You don’t normally see their (number) 1 and 2 singles players in two dubs.”

Comstock came up with several big serves to help fuel the victory, including a pair that turned the tide in the tiebreaker.

“It’s always kind of hard when you just get off the court from a rough singles match. You just kind of look for the small wins,” Comstock said. “When I get a chance to serve, if it’s going well, I like to think that it has the chance to turn the tables on the momentum in the match. If I take that opportunity, it can do big things.”

Central led 8-5, but had a tough time putting away their Cavaliers opponent, who eventually tied the match at 9-9 forcing the tiebreaker. STM scored the first point of the breaker, before Comstock unleashed an ace serve out wide on one point and then had a service winner down the middle of the court on the next point.

Comstock said her service out wide on the ad side of the court was by design.

“I was like ‘OK, Carly, take this wide. Serve to her backhand, just kind of hope for the best.’ That’s a serve that I practice,” Comstock said. “When I put my time into it, it’s really paid off in matches.”

While Comstock was solid at the service line, it was Douglas who tracked down multiple shots to keep rallies going and deny STM points.

“A couple of times they tried to line me, get me down the line and I lost hope,” Comstock said. “And then there she was right behind me.”

As a result, the duo ended up winning a hard-fought match against a quality foe.

“We weren’t just handed that match, we really had to work for it, and we really did,” Comstock said. “We had good energy. There were ups and downs. We moved and we talked. It went well.”

Central won two other matches by forfeit.

Vogel said his team had a tough time getting going after coming straight from class, while STM was ready to play having just finished up with Aberdeen Roncalli.

“You could see, they were fresh from playing Roncalli and we were fresh from Algebra,” Vogel said.

The Eagles continue to play at home the rest of the week, facing Rapid City Central at 11 a.m. Friday followed by playing Rapid City Stevens. Central then hosts the annual Elliott Extravaganza on Saturday.

St. Thomas More 6, Aberdeen Central 3

Singles

Athena Franciliso, STM, def. Julia Knie, 10-1.

Shriya Gangenini, STM, def. Alice Vogel, 10-3.

Katie Denholm, STM, def. Carly Comstock, 10-5.

Sophie Meyer, STM, def. Livia Douglas, 10-5.

Amity Strand, STM, def. Laney Gonsor, 10-8.

Avery Tennant, AC, won by forfeit.

Doubles

Denholm-Meyer, STM, def. Vogel-Ema Rehder, 10-4.

C. Comstock-Douglas, AC, def. Fanciliso-Gangenini, 10-9 (7-3).

Gonsor-Reese Comstock, AC, won by forfeit.